Fish and wildlife officials and environmental advocates are examining what caused the death of about 200 fish near a popular recreational area in Helena.

Workers with the Cahaba Riverkeeper Monday went to Buck Creek near Old Town Helena where they were called to observe a fish kill.

Riverkeeper David Butler, who is also staff attorney for the organization, said officials with the Alabama Department of Conservation & Natural Resources came to investigate and collected the dead fish.

“We obviously don’t know what washed downstream before we got there,” Butler said. “Most of the time they’re related to some type of pollution event.”

The fish kill was spotted near the dam at Old Town. Butler said observers started upstream, counting all the dead and distressed fish as they moved downstream.

Butler encouraged people to continue to take photos and report incidents as soon as they are discovered.

“It is important that we document that it happened, and they continue to monitor going forward.”